In their regular seasonal books preview, USA Today lists ten books “sure to entice you,” from a longer list of thirty of the “biggest books” coming January through April (in slide show form, it’s like flash cards for readers advisors — for other previews, check our links at the right, under “2012 Book Previews”).

Most of them, of course, are titles from sure-bet authors, but there are a few lesser-knowns among the picks.

The first book by Pulitzer-prize winning New Yorker writer, this book looks at the lives of a some of the 3,000 people who live on piles of garbage in an area near Mumbai’s airport, hidden behind a fence covered with ads for a floor tile called “Beautiful Forever.” USA Today points out that it will have a ready audience among fans of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, (and those who read Boo’s 2009 New Yorker story about a 13-year-old scavenger, Letter form Mumbai: Opening Night, The scene from the airport slums. The “Opening Night” of the title is the Indian premier of Slumdog Millionaire).

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One of two first novels on the the longer list is a title that may sound unlikely (how willing ARE Americans to delve into Greek mythology? Come to think of it, Rick Riordan has proved that at least one segment of the population is willing to go down that road), but the advance buzz on GalleyChat has us intrigued. If you’re going to MidWinter, try to nab a copy at the HarperCollins booth (they are also including copies in the goodie bag at their buzz session — sign up at librarylovefest@harpercollins.com).

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